Nicki crouched low and opened up the throttle, moving so fast that everything around her became a blur. She gave herself over to it, relaxing, letting her natural instincts take over. If she thought about it too much, she would wreck the bike, kill herself, and probably take out several innocents in the process.
It was only when she had exhausted herself, when her legs and arms were numb from the biting cold and her death-clutch on the machine, that she finally slowed and began to look for a place to pull over. She found one near the top of the mountain, an old hunter’s trail by the looks of it. She coasted to a stop, then dismounted, walking the bike back far enough that it couldn’t be seen from the road.
What the hell had happened? Nicki had never lost control like that. From the moment he touched her, she was lost, unable to stop what her rational mind knew was total insanity. He could have done anything, and she would have been powerless. What made him stop, she didn’t know. But she was glad at least one of them had been able to.
It was just one kiss. One totally claiming, life-altering kiss from the only man in this world who could shatter her soul. But it had been enough to know that she could never, ever let it happen again. She needed to finish up what she came here for and get the hell out.
*
Sean sat alone at the far end of the bar. He tossed back the shot and relished the burn, replaying the event in his head. What the fuck had happened? He had never felt such a sudden, vehement loss of control. He likened it to cruising along on his Harley, sun shining, road clear, wind in his hair, perfectly content, and getting instantly and cripplingly blindsided by a Mack truck.
She was just a woman. A woman. Barely more than a girl, really. His lead mechanic’s sister, for Christ’s sake. So what if she was the hottest, sexiest, softest, best looking-tasting-smelling female he’d ever come across in his life?
He ran his hand through his hair, stopping after the third or fourth time when he realized what he was doing. It was a gesture he’d seen his brothers adopt one by one. Jake, the weekend Taryn showed up at his Pub. Ian, the night Lexi returned to Pine Ridge. And Michael, the day after he’d first driven Maggie home. He’d abused them mercilessly about it, but each of them had simply smiled knowingly, as if being driven to such distraction was a badge of honor. As if they were the lucky ones.
The implications hit him solidly and without warning. Oh, fuck.
“Did you see that?” Jake smirked, nudging Ian. Ian’s grin was far too wide and knowing. “Yep, sure did.”
“Fuck you,” Sean replied miserably.
“Sean’s found his woman. Welcome to the club, brother.” Jake said with a grin.
Sean decided to repeat the sentiment, since they obviously hadn’t heard him the first time. “Fuck. You.”
“Oh, yeah,” Ian laughed. “He’s got it bad.”
“I do not need this shit from you dickheads right now,” he growled, getting up from the corner barstool where he had parked himself two hours ago. Jake and Ian literally howled with laughter. Sean’s scowl deepened considerably.
“What’s so funny?” Taryn asked, walking in with Riley. The little girl immediately put her hands out to Sean, whose face softened instantly at the sight of his little niece.
“Unk Shon!” she squealed in delight as he lifted her up above his head, bringing her back down to rain sloppy kisses on his cheek. It still amazed him how she always managed to tell him and Shane apart when most adults had difficulty.
“Sean’s doing the hair thing,” Ian informed Taryn gleefully. Sean ignored him and blew raspberries into his little niece’s belly, making her giggle.
“The hair thing?” Taryn asked, bemused.
As one, Jake and Ian turned and demonstrated the move in perfect synchronization, causing a wide grin to spread across Taryn’s face. “Sean fuair a chroí,” Jake said, laughing. Sean found his heart.
“That’s awesome!” she said. “When do we get to meet her?”
The laughter followed him as he handed Riley back to her mother with a scowl and promptly left the Pub.
Chapter Nine
By Saturday morning, Sean still had no idea what he was going to do. He watched her from the shadows of his office as she slid beneath another vehicle. She hadn’t spoken a single word to him – or to anyone else that he could tell - since arriving at dawn. Judging by the dark circles beneath her eyes, she hadn’t slept much either.
That made two of them.